Improved mode of charging cannons



2 Sheets -Sheet I. J. DODGE.

Machine Gun. No. 15,357.

Patehted July 15, 1856.

N. PETERS, PNOTO-uTMcGRAPnER, wAsnmuTon. u. c.

2 Sheets*Sheeb 2. J. DODGE.

Machine Gun. No: 15.357.

Patented July 15, I856.

MPEIERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

JOSIAH DODGE, OF DUMMERSTON, VERMONT.

IMPROVED MODE OF CHARGING CANNONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15,357, dated July 15,1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH Donen, of the city of Dummerston, in thecounty of Windham and State of Vermont, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Charging Gannons; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a clear and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings and figures of reference marked thereon,and made to form part of this specification.

The nature of my improvement consists in the arrangement of themechanism employed in placing the charge in or opposite the bore of thecannon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement,Iwillproceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure A represents a side elevation of the apparatus,and Fig.8 a planor top view of the same.

1 lrepresentthe frame of the machine, which can be mounted on wheels formoving from place to place.

2 is a sliding frame, on which-the different parts of the apparatus aremounted, partlyeonsistingofawheel, 3, made to revolve, and provided withsockets or tubes 4 on its periphery for receiving the charges 5. Thiswheel is revolved bythe mechanism hereinafter mentioned, and frame 2slid along the main frame *1 1 for the purpose of bringing the tubes 4against the end of the cannon-barrel 10, and is then held to thisposition during the time of firing the charge by means of the lever 11,which is provided with a catch that is made to pass into a notch in theframe 1, and thereby hold the apparatus firmly to the cannon-barrel 10duringthe time of firing the charge.

6 represents a forked lever, one prong used for drawing the guide-pins 8from the openings 9 made in the side of the wheel by actuating thesprings 7 and 14, while the other fork of the lever is furnished with asocket-shaped end and used for revolving the wheel 3 to the properpoints for presenting the ends of the tubes at to the cannon-barrel 10by prying the wheel around with the lever 6, which lever is made to acton the end of tubes or charges in revolving the wheel, and when revolvedto the right point the guide-pin S slips into one of the openings 9,which gives the tube at the right position to be presented to thecannon-barrel 10, and is then efi'ectcd by sliding the frame2 until thetube comes in contact with the barrel, and is then held to its placeduring the time of firing by means ot'the lever 11, as before stated.The lever 6 has end-play for the purpose of allowing it to accommodateitself to the motion of the end of the tubes on the wheel 3 when bein grevolved.

12 are springs attached to the wheel 3, and made to cover thetouch-holes made in the tubes 4 to prevent any part of the charge fromrunning out. The instrument for firing the charge will be madeofasuitable shape to raise the spring when the charge is to be fired.

\Vhat Iclaim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The arrangement of the springs 7 and 14, guide-pin S, openings 9, andforked lever 6, for the double purpose of revolving and guiding thetubing on the periphery ofthe wheel at the end of can non-barrel, asbefore mentioned.

JOSIAH DODGE.

Witnesses:

MARTIN Benson, W. I. Ross.

